GOLDFINGER.

The most fun without laughing.
(every scene with oddjob)
The best sex without anyone else in the room.
(shirley eaton on the screen,when first meeting mr bond)

The most unusual advertising for any film.
(if you are going to paint yourself all over in godd,leave a small area for the skin to breath.)

michael richardson, hull, england

Of course, James Bond is incompetent. I wonder if Nigel Kendall has not missed the point about the fictional character whom he labels "Britain's bumbling saviour". Ian Fleming conceived James Bond as a lecherous drunk and bumbler with a license to kill, and the mayhem that results from those contradictions provide much of the storyline in any James Bond novel or movie. An interesting point to ponder is whether Fleming could have been tweaking the Intelligence Community with which he had ties Are the men from the OSS / CIA and MI6 whom Fleming knew the inspiration for his James Bond?

Erwin, Washington, DC

Pierce Brosnan & Halle Berry " DIE ANOTHER DAY'

Beat THAT

Brian Charles Seals, Scarborough, Nth Yorks, England

From Russia with Love is my favourite.
Robert Shaw truly menacing as Grant and Rosa Klebb a great adversary.
Kerim Bey excellent as his friend in the field. Also provides a great subplot in his battle with Krilencu.

And the man behind the plan no less than Chess Grand Master Kronsteen.

I also like the lack of gadgets and no silly ending with countless marines sliding down ropes etc.
Location shoots excellent and also the Orient Express!!

Neil , Oxford , England

There is only one James Bond film. They just keep making it over and changing the name.

Bruce L. Northwood, Washington, D.C., USA

It's the best yet. It never ceases to amaze me how hindsight always provides a better view of things. Now that there have been numerous bond films and a wider base from which to judge, it's easier to criticize. Bond was supposed to discover how Goldfinger was smuggling gold. It turned into a wider, much larger issue. Bond had to wing-it. Although the film had some weak points, I enjoyed it most of all.

J. Weyrich, Duluth, GA

Awesome! Couldn't have explained Bond's foolishness better! You Sir are 100% on the money.

Now, please explain how every woman Bond encounters drops her panties and gets into bed?

This is the explaination we REALLy want to know!

Larry, Port Orchard, WA

The thing that sticks in my mind most from Goldfinger is the blue, all-in-one towelling shorts suit that Sean Connery wears by the pool. Even Connery couldn't pull it off and that one wardrobe malfuntion prevents Goldfinger from being the best Bond ever. I actually think Casino Royale was the best ever, apart from the lovey dovey stuff. It definitely has the best opening scenes ever and the best chase scene (on the construction site). Bond is blond!

Oonagh, Hong Kong,

But it all was tied up so closely to its time. The West was drunk over unfounded claims of superior military power, technology was peeping its head and amazing the donkey riders in the streets of London, the shock of Soviet Sputnik only enlivened the imagination but pressured the propagandists for more make belief.

When I watched Dr. Who in Leicester Square Warner Brothers theater, I recall a mixture of feelings: Amazement at his gadgets, which were not so many, and a distinct feeling of unease at the subtle whipping of cold-war fever.

The title of "From Russia with Love" confirmed - although, in a sense, it only gently demonstrated that the reaction of Soviet officials is exactly what every circulation-hungry Right wing tabloid have been yelling - ad nausum.

And every one watched dazed and amazed how a single man, "with 2 liters of alcohol coursing in his system" RELIEVE them of a nightmare they were told to have!

Nicolaus, San Francisco, CA

Dr No, the original and still the best.

Chris, Kathmandu,

Best Bond film?

Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me.

Got the best of every other Bond film, and more besides.

Patrick Simpson, Oxford, UK

Dante --- I would have to agree that From Russia With Love is also my all-time fave (Connery) Bond flik. One thing not mentioned in the article about Goldfinger is that 007 defeats and demeans the nefarious Auric G in a round of golf when our super-spy blatantly and proudly cheats by switching balls on the rotund, villianous bank robber, thus forcing him to forfeit the game. Good sportsmanship? All's fair in the realms of love and international espionage. Long live 007!

Dan York, Kansas City, USA/Missouri

Well said Dante, I agree 100%

E Clapham, Jalón, Spain

I saw Goldfinger opening night in the downtown theater in Oxford Mississippi. I was about 20th in line and when they opened the box office window the people pushed us so hard up against it that the entire window shattered to bits. A real mob scene and the most memorable to say the least.

Bob, Navarre, Florida

Maybe today's Brits need a couple pints to step up and participate on the War on Terror instead of slacking off and crying over princess di still. They let them wear muslum headscarves in Britain now and pray to their gods.

Republican Man, Hays, KS

PS: The stunt in Golden Eye, involving the motorcycle and the plane, made our entire audience in San Francisco cheer!!! There ought to be an Oscar for stunt people.

Mom, San Francisco, California

I agree with 'Tiger Tanaka', my favorite is "You Only LiveTwice" for the same reasons.

Michael Collins, UK,

The modern Casino Royale is in a class by itself, the best by far. Dr. No is second best, with a hard edge that later films lacked. From Russia with Love manages to maintain some of that. Goldfinger was on the cusp of the transition from Bond as secret agent to Bond as poseur (during the nadir of the series). Sean Connery managed to avoid appearing completely ridiculous, but the movies into which he was inserted must have become an increasing humiliation to him. George Lazenby? Roger Moore was too old for the part, and the scripts became ridiculous during his tenure. (Moonraker!) Timothy Dalton and Pierce Brosnan were fine, and scripts were consistent and not horrible during their tenure. But those films did not have the edge that characterized Dr. No. Daniel Craig's portrayal in Casino Royale benefitted from a script that had an edge, long missing from the series, that is consistent with the premise of an agent with a "license to kill."

Bob, Reston (Virginia), USA

From Russia With Love is definitely the best of the Connery films, in my opinion. Great chemistry between Bond and his Turkish counterpart, Kerim Bay. Great atmosphere, especially in the gypsy scenes. Great villains like Rosa Klebb and Red Grant. One of the best fight scenes in the entire franchise: the brutal train conflict between Bond and Grant. Many choose Goldfinger as the penultimate Bond film, but honestly, for me, it was too slow paced. From Russia With Love had everything.

Rich, Huntsville, USA/Alabama

I think you're forgetting that the CIA only intervene as a result of a tip off from Ms Galore. The tip off comes as a result of her change of heart, brought on by Bond's seduction of her....

Tom, London,

Well, he does manage to get out a radio message detailing Goldfinger's plans and convinces Pussy to swtich the gas for a non-toxic version. Doesn't that deserve a bit of nip?

Bill, Oklahoma City, OK

I saw GF on opening night in the downtown theater in Oxford Mississippi. I was about 20th in line and when the boxoffice window opened up the people push us so hard from behind that the box office window shattered to bits. That frenzy makes Goldfinger the most memorable to me.

Bob, Navarre, Florida

For me, there is nothing better than Dr. No! I love the dialogue and the settling in Jamaica. From Russia with Love is a close second.

Aaron, New York, NY

Goldfinger it is a classic 007 movie, CRoyale give a Bond most different from the original 007 agent and Sean Connery is the real 007.

Alessandro Mirabilio, Civitavecchia (RM),

From Russia With Love is the best of all Bond films - best Bond plot, best Bond script, best Bond girl. And, of course, the best Bond.

Michael, Overland Park, Kansas

From Russia with Love is about tops for me -- helped by a genuine sense of menace from Robert Shaw.

Nicholas Keen, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

The Bond films deteriorated immediately the smirking Roger Moore took the part. Until then there had been some credibility but that all went out of the window when Sean Connery sensibly gave it up.

Having said that, for me, the best of all the series was "From Russia with Love ". It had everything and there were no silly secret gadgets to take it into the realms of fantasy.

James Munro, Aneres 65150, France

"From Russia with Love" and "Goldfinger" are, by far, the two best Bond films ever. After Sean Connery left the films have
descended more and more into over-the-top high tech gadgetry and drivel.

John Zediker, Garden Grove, California

For me the best Bond movie of all is From Russia With Love.
Who can forget Robert Shaw as the SMERSH assassin sent
to eliminate Bond and their fight to the death on the Orient Express? It has never been bettered.. The theme song written
by Lionel Bart and sung by Matt Monro, must also be the best of all the Bond theme songs..

John F. Sweeney, Calne, UK

1. O.H.M.S.S.

2. Diamonds are forever.

3.From Russia With Love.

Or should I say,
1.Louis Armstrong.

2.Shirley Bassey.

3. Matt Monroe.

Or should I say,

1.Diana Rigg.

2.Jill St John.

3.Daniela Bianchi.

Tough choices?
Michael Wilson should get Dame Shirley back for one last glass shattering title song while the grand madam of perfect pitch can still do a bond theme song some justice.

Nick Dixon, Sutton Coldfield , U.K.

from russia with love,followed by goldfinger both excellent films!
great plots ,believable baddies and not over the top with gadjets.

robert harvison, wellingborough, england

"...two litres of spirits permanently coursing through his system."

Surely a candidate for astronaut training!

Tim Lewis, Wainscott, NY

If Mr. Connery had starred in In Her Majesty's Secret Service, it would have been the best of the films. The first four are fairly equal, but I have begun to favor From Russia, With Love. I enjoy the European settings, especially the fight at the Gypsy camp.Daniel Craig shows great promise and I look forward to his future attempts at "Bond-age."

Timothy Maples, Riverview, Michigan, USA

I remember Johnny Carson joking that the Timothy Dalton movies were written by Michael Milken because they were "Junk Bonds".

Doug, Atlanta,

Can't believe no-one's mentioned Diamonds are Forever - Bond perfection. Although I think honorable mention should really go to The World Is Not Enough, Brosnan's highpoint (shame he got the role ten years too late, a fine actor (see The Matador if you don't believe) but he was turning into Roger Moore by the end).

I will forever remember Goldfinger not for the girls or the gadgets, but for the blue terry towelling romper suit Connery wears by the pool.

Tim Marshall, Melbourne, Australia

Thunderball brilliant setting, great movie

Wolfy Dempsey, whangarei, new zealand

Live and Let Die, surely. It has the best theme, too.

Matthew, Ringwood, UK

I still love Goldfinger and Sean Connery who I think is the best Bond with Brosnan as a very close second.
Connery is sexy, smooth and classic, however Brosnan is all of that plus a very 'human' face of Bond who does have feelings, just ! I love them both !

Susan, Crawley, UK

It depends what you want out of Bond.

I judge films like this by asking myself whether I would love to be the main character. Hence when Connery was Bond I thought to myself wow yes i would love to be him. Similarly when Dalton was Bond. And now with the gritty realism and hard edgedness of Daniel Craig's version, I find myself at 41 years old wanting to be Bond again. But i never thought that for Roger Moore.

Dalton was underated. Connery was quintessential film Bond. Daniel Craig is the now and the future and i hope he remains with the franchise in the same vein for some time to come. As I believe one day, we will be asking the question of only 2 candidates, who was best, Connery or Craig?

Simon Griffiths, Manchester, England

Editor:

"Goldfinger" is a good film without a doubt, the directing of Guy Hamilton especially praiseworthy, but the Bond film that I find more taut, more tightly put together is "From Russia With Love". It had the best suspense scenes and some of the best acting. "OHMSS" was good but way too long with far too many chase scenes. A little editing would improve it dramatically.

But "Thunderball" has its delights, too.

Dan Guenzel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin,

Sean Connery, good, anyone else, bad.

Scotch Mist, melbourne,

Well said.Bond is totally incompentent.I thought Johnny English,was the best Bond taking British incompetence to ever greater highs.The important thing is Bond is a Goodie,British and always lands on his feet.We know he will win in the end because -well there`s another Bond movie to be made.My very fav Bond is From Russia.Bond totally incompetent when trying to get a decoder back to Uk.Talk about doing it the hard way.However,Bonds incompetence is matched only by a succession of totally inept villains.If the white cat had been sent to kill Bond it would have had more success.All good fun.

Patrick, Nottingham., England

Exactly, dante - From Russia With Love.

Goldfinger is great, better than almost anything that comes after, but it marks the point at which the series tips into self-parody. FRWL is the forerunner to the recent Casino Royale - it's not huge Pinewood-stage-sized villain's lairs (wonderfully designed by Ken Adam though they were), silly gags and flashiness. It's smaller scale, violent and Bond is genuinely at risk - plus it doesn't have a dumb Richard Branson cameo in it.

Dr No still has the best line, though: That's a Smith & Wesson, and you've had your six.

Chris, London,

There has never been a truely great Bond film but put that down to the books. I started reading them when I was about ten, loved the films for the next few years and then grew out of both when spotty adolescence hit. They're teeenage adventure yarns and that's their limitation.
Having said that, the films have provided some great music, even better title sequences but, at the same time, they are sloppily made. The errors are legendary.
I was watching You Only Live Twice recently and it's amazing that whilst much of the film is shot on location in Japan yet when Bond is in a ligt airplane that's careering towards the ground, it is obvious its flying over the green fields of England rather than the rice paddies of Japan. Why?

Graham Thomas, London, UK

My fav scene was Brosnan and the BMW with the remote control. Utterly briIiant stuff.

cww, Ipswich,

"Goldfinger's" better than "Dr. No."Both of them are a lot better than "Diamonds Are Forever," a judgment reflected in its relatively poor showing at the box office, and in which field, of course, "Thunderball" was a notable success.

Sick Boy, Edinborough, Scotland

sean, london, england.

According to Fleming, Bond was born in Scotland of a Scottish father and Swiss mother. Quintessentially English?

eckythump, Salisbury, UK

Agree with earlier comment that On Her Majesty's Secret Service as the best. Reading the Fleming series as a boy this story reached the pinnacle of fantasy and escape - the Swiss alps,skiing, skating, 600 Mercs and of course the wedding.
The 70's film version was appropriately camped up and poor old George Lazenby much maligned for quite a worthy job.
Would love to it redone with Daniel Craig and perhaps Kate Winslett in the Rigg role.

Craig Cameron, Melbourne, Australia

The Man with the Golden Gun! Wonderful setting, the two most gorgeous Bond girls, few gadgets and a classy villain, more elegant than Bond.

Chris. Fulker, Nantou, Taiwan, R.O.C.

I liked it in Goldfinger when the gold was placed into the Florida limo by a machine rented from Coventry Ltd.
Nice to have equipment imported from home...

Ramsey, New Mexico, USA

Goldfinger was the best Bond movie of all in my opinion,excellent villains such as the fearsome Odd Job and Goldfinger himself,Pussy Galore who later was wooed onto the good side and that Aston Martin car was awesome for it's time and the Oriental bad guy had the worse luck of all to have been the one to end up sitting in that 'ejector' seat

Connery made the Bond character although Roger Moore was equally a charmer as well as being supremely fit and did an excellent job after Lazenby did just one movie....as for the rest, Dalton,Brosnan,etc....No,it just doesn't gel

The other Bond movies I thought were splendid were From Russia With Love,Live and Let Die and The Spy Who Loved Me ,the latter being the fim in which that fearsome and eternal bad guy Jaws made his debut....funnily enough like Pussy Galore 15 years before him,Jaws was persuaded to the good side in Moonraker,probably the most disappointing 007 film of all time

Paul J , New Port Richey, FL USA

Daniel Craig in Casino Royale is a revelation. He plays Bond to perfection - cool, suave, on-the-edge tough with adrenalin to spare - not Moore nor Brosnan (both whimps).

Except for the part when Craig's bollocks got thumped (i like my heroes invincible); and lack of girls in Casino, I'd say he is the ideal Bond.

Before Casino, I'd rank Sean Connery's "From Russia With Love" as best Bond movie. Looking forward to Craig in more Bond movies.

anton Lyn, guangzhou, china

I have been watching Bond films since I was a child along with my father. When Roger Moore appeared as Bond, I couldn't believe my beloved Sean Connery was gone. Then came Timothy Dalton who, seemed to lack the Bond vibe. Pierce Brosnan had the charm, wit and looks that define James Bond......or so I thought. Enter, DanielCraig. He added a grittines to the character the all previous Bond's did not. His brooding demeanor also evoked a quality not previously brought to the Bond character. I look forward to seeing more of James Bond, and Daniel Craig.

Leslie, Seattle, Washington, USA

Goldfinger was the Bond movie that shows the chauvenism inherit in Connery's Bond. He rapes Pussy Galore, by effectively kissing her into compliance, not passion. I agree that Roger Moore was the better Bond, a gentleman killer if you will (though he cannot kiss on screen).

Chris, Changhua, Taiwan

To me, the best is still the first, "Dr. No."

Bond was never more clever and cool; Dr. No was a great villain; and Ursula Andress made a terrific Bond girl.

The other Bond movies I've seen look like "The Man From U.N.C.L.E." by comparison--parodies of Ian Fleming's real thing.

Bill Shoemaker, Catawissa, PA, USA

Last years Casino Royale was the worst Bond film I have ever seen and probably one of the worst films I have ever seen. The newest Bond can't act and the script was awful. James Bond tries to be Jackie Chan.

I think the best Bond film was one about a hijacked Russian laser space satelite. Moore and Brosnan are tied for the best Bonds. Brosnan's scripts were better than many of Moore's.

Jim, Roscoe, USA

Octopussy
Fantastic plot, mad russian, beautiful and classy women.
A nasty man and fantastic sights in beautiful India all this with fab music.
And the beginning part prior to the Music, in Cuba is an all time great.
And finally no over the top marketing which really make Bond movies vers distasteful.

I mean since when does Bond drink Smirnoff Vodka (Tomorrow never dies), it's american for god's sake!
Bond and Omega? Oh come on he's always had Rolexes!
BMW, why not a beefed up FIAT?

+ Bond always takes time to live the life and entertain,
nowadays it's all about fights, chases, more fights, explosions, etc, which is fine as long as he rests with a Martini or Bollinger in the middle!
And all that being said since when does Bond fight villains with only 100m US$ at a poker game, he uses to take on the major bad guys, not some smuck who took money which is not even his...! This is just completely wrong.
Sorry for the lenght but one hopes that BBroccoli will wake up!

GL, London, London

Obviously "From Russia With Love" is the quintessential Bond movie. Only a British secret agent would have suspected Robert Shaw was impersonating a fellow "00" agent because he ordered a red wine (Claret!!) with fish in the dining car of the Orient Express.

dick lloyd, Medford, Oregon,

"For Your Eyes Only": Ridiculous gadgets kept to a minimum. Good script, no over the top characters. This was the best of the Moore movies. The Brosnan movies were horrible! I would not have gone to see another Bond movie with Brosnan after "Die another Day" I had even hoped they'd end the franchise after seeing it. It was that bad.
"Casino Royale" was excellent. Craig makes a great Bond. Let's hope they keep it up and actually produce real scripts with actual plots.

napier, San Fernando,

THUNDERBALL is the best. Nuclear weapons, a hydrofoil yacht, and dont forget the underwater fighting frog men.

jjs, austin, tx

Thunderball. Connery still up to form, few unrealistic gadgets, ruthless evildoers and a damsel in distress. Plus spectacular underwater filming (for the time), a realistic and gripping plotline and a big climactic ending. What more could you want?

h wehrmann , dallas, tx,

But what a theme tune. Shirley Bassey at her belting it out best. That tune makes up for all the ineptitude of Bond on it's own. In fact I wouldn't have given Odd Job 5 seconds against an angry Shirley. What a singer....and she was still doing it 40 odd years later with The Propellerheads.... and it's all just a little bit of history repeating.
WOW.

andrew cawte, Hong Kong,

It is true that Bond appears incompetent in the film, but what about the fantastic scene where he ensures Goldfinger loses the golf match?

It's an amazing film as are all the others, especially Goldfinger and From Russia with love. My all time favourite though has to be Live and Let Die. It's superb and has the best Bond in it too - Sir Roger Moore!

Bond fanatic, London,

It is the musical scores as well as these little things that we all look out for that are classically Bond.

All of the movies have little snippets that are Bond true to tradition. I am still however looking for these important bits in Brosnan's depictions of Bond.

From Russia With Love is truly Bond. The musical score, the beautiful girls, the gadgets, and of course, the height of the Cold War and the competition between Moscow and London are, oh so terribly important. It also helps when Bond kills the leading lady's lover and takes his place after convincing her to let go of her hate for him, forgive him and then bed him. Classic!

R Singh, KualaLumpur, Malaysia

sean connery just plays himself like he does in all his films! anyway he cant be bond he is scottish!! roger moore was the man, the one true bond, quintessential englishman, and he relaised how ridiculous the whole concept is and played it accordingly

sean, london, england

Although it was panned by a number of critics upon its release On Her Majesty's Secret Service was a veritable tour de force. George Lazenby was criticised for his lack of acting ability, somewhat unjustifiably. Diana Rigg's performance was great, the scenery stunning and the action quite superb. Perhaps because this was the Bond film which marked a change from the established figure of Sean Connery it faced an insurmountable hurdle. However, I rate this as one of the best and find it still eminently watchable.

Tom Marshall, Lichfield,

I was born in 1967 and was not allowed to see any bond films until Octopussy - that was my first ever. I had so badly wanted to see them - to see what all the fuss was about. I had built up this great character in my mind of who I thought Bond was.

Then when I saw Octupussy, and over the years all the others, it was just a big letdown at how very chlldish and bubble gum most of them were.

Then Casino Royale came out last year, and I saw it (only because a friend really wanted to go). And I have to say that *IT* was what I had thought the Bond movies were growing up.

Casino Royale is THE Bond movie, in my opinion. The best ever - and so different and evolved as to seem like it's not even a part of the rest of the franchise.

It stands on its own, really.

Sherry, Redmond, Washington - USA

It has to be "From Russia with love" - 007 is tracked, hunted and almost taken out by one of the best assassins in any type of movie ever, plus almost gets the boot from Rosa Klebb just when we all thought we could relax towards the end - plus an absence of all the really boring gadgets and explosions that took over subsequent storylines.

clive whitton, shortlands, kent

Got to be "You Only Live Twice".
Sean Connery, best music, best story, best visuals, Best Blofeld. Best girl too - even though she gets poisoned halfway through.

Tiger Tanaka, Tokyo,

Agreed, From Russia is by far the quintessential Bond movie for spy enthusiasts.

Bill Snyder, Memphis, Tennessee

Have you ever read one of the actual novels by Ian Fleming? From your rather flawed article, you obviously haven't. If you had read one of the novels you would know that Bond is not a 'one man army,' as you make him out to be. This was merely a characteristic that slowly developed in the films. Look at Casino Royale (the film) - in returning far more closely to the original Fleming formula, Bond is clearly not just a 'one man army,' he makes mistakes and gets into trouble. Also, if you'd read the novels, you'd also know that Bond can stomach very large quantities of alcohol without being drunk (in Moonraker, he manages to still beat Drax at bridge despite drinking two bottles of champagne and more).
I'd also like to see you as relaxed as Bond was when he had a laser being drawn towards him. Terrible article - rather than looking at why Goldfinger was and is so popular you have merely launched your own personal vendetta.

Benjamin North, Taunton, Somerset

yes i think goldfinger spoilt the genre from a critics point of view although it brougt it immense commercial success. From that point the films just became rediculous with the audience waiting between bits of action to draw their attention back to an incresingly implausibly scripted film. On her majesties secret service was a throwback to the flemming novels as the last book to be filmed. But after that the more credible scripts of the books had become irrelevent in all but title ito the tongue in cheek blockbusters films.

The pirece brosman era was so boring and formulaic that even John barry whose music argubaly made the franchise said the series should be put to bed.

D whittaker, eastbourne, east sussex

I think the Bond series should finish now with Bond dying a spectacular death. It's gone on long enough. All the actors have added a special something to the role. Whilst most people found Timothy Dalton dreary I personally found him the most true to the book Bond. Sean Connery seems to be most people's favourite but I find him a poor actor. Roger Moore - I can't really think of anything to say. Laughable. My personal favourite, Pierce Brosnan was given a good first film and then poor writing and directing followed. Daniel Craig is a wonderful Bond and a terrific actor, but in having that success the Bond producers have had to give up the famous Bond formula and create a charactor more aligned to that of Jason Bourne . It's time to let it go. Daniel should do one last film to end it - it's time to let it go I think.

Chris Plant, London, England

Incompetent, generally drunk, but coming out on top in the end (in more ways than one) How splendidly British is that?

From Russia with love is also great, as is Thunderball; in fact all the early Connery ones - Dr No is mythical. Diamonds are forever has probably the best song although the film is only 8/10.

I thought Casino Royale was the best Bond film since then.

cuffleyburgers, Lucca,

its very hard to say which was the best bond film but i can easily say that lewis gilbert was the best bond director.

clark, cannes,

"Goldfinger" was and will forever remain the apex of the Bond films and Sean Connery will forever be the one true James Bond.

Glenn A. Jorgensen, Houston, Texas

I believe Casino Royale is the best Bond film. There is an interesting story line with lots of action; as well as a compliment of sub plots and an abundance of other notable characters. In fact I believe this was by far the best supporting cast of any of the Bond movies. We see the softer side of bond in his love interest. The ending is very sad, but it does set up other stories. It would have been different if Connery had been Bond in this one. Overall I believe Lazenby gave it the good old college try and came through it well. One note to current Bond and other action movies; if it is not possible it takes a lot out of the movie. In watching the new Bond movies I usually turn it off when they get to the parts that are not plausible at all.

Charles Witsman, Leesburg, Florida/USA

Nigel Kendall, shame on you for your criticism of poor Bond indulging in a well-earned tipple. Have you never heard of post traumatic stress syndrome? The fact of your freedom to write such dafamatory prose is thanks to his having saved the world on numerous occasions - sometimes for democracy and even sometimes literally. So his hands shake a little and a few innocent people around him end up dead. Mere collateral damage and a small price to pay for the countless millions saved!
If your crusade is to expose drug-taking in the profession, why don't you take a shot at the dipsomaniacal activities of Nick Charles and Alec Leamas (who, as far as I know, never saved the world), or the attachment Mr. Holmes has for his needle???

Andrew Brennan, Los Angeles, California

This, of course, is immediately recognisable as Little Jimmy Bond, played by Woody Allen. Both show him as a fantasy image created by a loser, which is after all what James Bond is.

Ian Kemmish, Biggleswade, UK

Yes, From Russia With Love was definitely the best. There was actual espionage and cunning. Bond has gadgets and manages to use them, but his triumphs come when he uses his enemies' gadgets against them. Brains and courage, not "booshwah" (as my grandmother says).

Clayton, New York,

Shocking!

Goldfinger is the best Bond film. Why? Connery at his best, all suave and snarly. Oddjob, his hat and gold painted ladies are the stuff of legend.

As for the DB5, many cool gadgets are deployed, only one needs mention to close the debate, the ejector seat.

The casting of Honor Blackman was the masterstroke. Camp and cheeky with judo as seduction, the roll in the hay of enlightenment and the day is saved by Pussy Galore's Flying Circus.

What's not to love?.

bondy, London,

In Fleming's original novels Bond spends most of his time either captured or being beaten up, so in that respect Goldfinger is true to the spirit of the original material. For the best movies there is either From Russia with Love, or it would have been On Her Majesty's Secret Service if only Connery had stayed in the role. Even with the wooden Lazenby it's up there though. The excellent Casino Royale has hopefully started a new golden age of Bond.

D V, Wokingham,

From Russia With Love, no question. Sean Connery at his best, beautiful women, of course, Gypsies and Gypsy music, a fine girl fight, what's not to love. The clincher, as with all the early Bond films, the producers had not yet ruined the franchise by larding on the ridiculous gadgets and over doing the pyrotechnics.

Dante, Portand, USA/Oregon

From Russia With Love has it all. Even the gadgets were believable.

peter Whateley, Coventry, UK

All true, but 007 does manage to seduce Pussy Galore in the barn with a winning combo of charm and brute force; a Bond Girl, it's worth noting, whose charms are hitherto anchored off the isle of Sapphos.

This seduction is key to the US army coming to rescue.

He also fronts up Goldfinger on the golf course, unmasking his cheating ways.

And he looks definitively cool in the grey three-piece.

Sean M., LA, CA